Definition

Noun: A contagious viral disease, also known as rubella or German measles, characterized by a mild rash and fever. It is a milder form of measles, typically lasting three to four days. While often a mild illness in children, infection during the first trimester of pregnancy can be damaging to the fetus, potentially causing congenital rubella syndrome.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The public health department issued an alert about an outbreak of epidemic roseola.
  • Vaccination has made cases of epidemic roseola much rarer in many countries.
  • Pregnant women are tested for immunity to epidemic roseola due to the serious risks to the unborn child.

Advanced Usage

• Medical Context: The term is often used in historical or formal medical contexts to describe the disease and its public health impact. In modern clinical settings, "rubella" is the more common term.
  • The textbook chapter on viral exanthems included a section on epidemic roseola.

Variants and Related Words

• Rubella (n): The more common contemporary name for the same disease.
• German measles (n): A common, informal name for the disease.
• Congenital rubella syndrome (n): A serious condition that can occur in a fetus when the mother contracts epidemic roseola during pregnancy.

Synonyms

• Rubella
• German measles
• Three-day measles

Related Phrases

• Rubella vaccine (n): The immunization that prevents epidemic roseola.
  • Children receive the rubella vaccine as part of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) immunization.

Noun

1. a contagious viral disease that is a milder form of measles lasting three or four days; can be damaging to a fetus during the first trimester